Keynote Speaker · Executive Coach · Author

Communication that drives
execution. Communication
that drives
execution.

MJ helps leaders diagnose why their teams aren't taking action and gives them the communication plan to move people forward.

Using the Action Ladder, MJ shows leaders where their people are stuck, what they need next, and how to communicate so the team moves.

Book MJ for Your Event Watch MJ in Action
300+
Organizations Served
5K+
Leaders Impacted
5★
Speaker Rating
MJ Pittman speaking on stage
Why MJ

Built on the stage.
Applied in the boardroom.

My name is MJ, and I have traveled the world as a professional speaker. I have thousands of 5-star audience testimonials, hundreds of clients, and I have made millions of dollars doing this, all by the age of 33.

From these experiences, I extracted a set of laws for communication. Those laws apply to two arenas, the stage and the boardroom. Both do the same job: they move humans into action.

So when your team won't take the action you need them to take, I can help you diagnose where they're stuck and prescribe what to say next.

Because here is the truth: humans only move when the message is clear. When you are a leader who is easy to follow, you become a leader who is easy to follow.

The Method

The Action Ladder:
7 Stages from Message to Movement.

When a team won't move, leaders default to one of two things: assume they know why, or work harder to motivate. Both fail. Most team underperformance is a misdiagnosis problem, not a motivation problem.

The Action Ladder names the seven stages a person moves through before they take real action. Diagnose the stage your person is actually on, and the right intervention becomes clear.

Where is your team on the Action Ladder?

  1. Stage 01

    No Action.

    Why should I?

    "I see no reason to change and have no intentions to."

    Friction
  2. Stage 02

    Reluctant Action.

    Can I avoid this?

    "I'll do it, but I'm dragging my feet and looking for a way out of it."

    Resistance
  3. Stage 03

    Compliant Action.

    What's required?

    "I am doing what is required to stay out of trouble and maintain status quo."

    Duty
  4. Stage 04

    Experimental Action.

    Will this actually work for me?

    "I'm willing to try this, but I need proof that it works."

    Doubt
  5. Stage 05

    Committed Action.

    How do I make this succeed?

    "I'm doing this because I believe it matters."

    Ownership
  6. Stage 06

    Sustained Action.

    How do I keep this going?

    "This is just part of my daily routine now."

    Identity
  7. Stage 07

    Contagious Action.

    How do we make this normal for others?

    "We do this, and anyone who joins us does it too."

    Culture
Diagnose Your Team
Trusted By
Chase Bank of America Rutgers University Maxwell Leadership SMU Primerica Boys & Girls Clubs YMCA

"A leader who is easy to follow is a leader who is easy to follow."

Ways to Work With MJ

Three ways to install the Action Ladder.

MJ Pittman speaking on stage to a leadership audience
01 · Free Diagnostic

The Action Ladder Diagnostic.

In about 8 minutes, map up to 5 team members to their stage on the Action Ladder, with a clear next step for each.

Take the Diagnostic
02 · Coaching

Action Ladder Coaching.

A 90 day program with MJ to build the missing conditions on your team, stage by stage, until movement becomes the default rather than the exception.

Is This for Me?
03 · Keynote

Keynote Speaking.

Your audience walks out of MJ's 60-minute keynote Win Anyway with clear communication strategies that move people forward. This talk helps leaders turn passive listening into productive action. Perfect for sales kickoffs, leadership off-sites, and organizations navigating uncertainty.

Book MJ for Your Event
Free Diagnostic

Find Out Where Your Team Is Stuck.

The Action Ladder Diagnostic walks you through 14 questions about up to 5 team members, then maps each one to their stage on the ladder and tells you what to build for each. About 8 minutes.

Take the Diagnostic →
Free · 10 Minutes
The Action Ladder Diagnostic
MJ Pittman with John Maxwell
Featured

John Maxwell

New York Times #1 Best-Selling Author, Leadership Coach & Speaker

"MJ, you killed it. You are visually contagious. If you're this good all the time? We're going to be doing some stuff together."

MJ had the opportunity to speak and train John Maxwell's leaders in West Palm Beach, Florida, teaching on the communication habits that turn authority into influence.

Watch MJ in Action
Extended Clips

See it in motion.

In 2026, anyone can look polished with AI tools and a good edit. Event planners want proof that what they see online translates to their stage. So these clips provide peace of mind for that: three different audiences, three different styles, but one consistent speaker.

Style: Motivation
Winners Lose More Than Losers Lose
Style: Strategy Workshop
Trust-Led Sales
Style: Action Oriented
Building a Trustworthy Reputation
01 / 03
What Others Are Saying Testimonials What Others Are Saying Testimonials What Others Are Saying Testimonials What Others Are Saying Testimonials What Others Are Saying Testimonials What Others Are Saying Testimonials What Others Are Saying Testimonials What Others Are Saying Testimonials What Others Are Saying Testimonials What Others Are Saying Testimonials
What Others Are Saying

Real leaders.
Real results.

"
★★★★★
"You're doing yourself a disservice by choosing anything else. MJ brings a rare combination of depth and energy. Every person in the room walked out different than they walked in."
EM
Eric Moss
Program Director
"
★★★★★
"During the workshop, my staff was texting me: 'THIS IS AMAZING!' You really did us a service today."
CF
Cullin Fish
Event Organizer
"
★★★★★
"I really love trusting that when I schedule with you, it's going to be a great experience. Every single time."
LR
Lindsey Riedmueller
Event Organizer
"
★★★★★
"Michael just gets it. You really know how to engage an audience and make the content stick."
TS
Thomas Santiago
Event Organizer
"
★★★★★
"One of the best presenters I've come across. Enthusiasm that is impossible to fake."
SN
Stacy Nyikos
Event Organizer
Book MJ →
MJ Pittman
300+ Organizations
Served
About MJ

Analytical thinking.
Contagious enthusiasm.

MJ Pittman is a leadership communication speaker, coach, and author who's traveled the world speaking on stages of every size. Today he helps leaders find the lowest stage where their team isn't yet ready to move, build the missing condition there, and unlock the execution they thought a clearer email or a better all-hands would solve.

After thousands of speaking engagements over the last two decades, MJ knows the science and the strategies behind communication that sticks. He's also lived the business side of it, generating millions in revenue selling financial services across banking and insurance, then millions more selling his own products to colleges and universities. The throughline across every room, deal, and stage was the same: leaders who can move people win. The ones who can't, don't.

With a background in engineering, theater, and financial sales, MJ brings analytical rigor and contagious enthusiasm to every room he walks into.

Work With MJ

Ready to put MJ
in your room?

Whether you're booking a keynote, bringing MJ in for a workshop, or starting the 90 day Action Ladder Coaching program, share a few details below and MJ's team will get back to you within 48 hours.

📍
Location
Available Nationwide & Internationally
🎤
Speaking Topics
Leadership Communication · Executive Presence · Influence & Sales
🌐
Website
mjpittman.com

Send a Booking Request

✓

Request Received!

Thanks for reaching out. MJ's team will review your event details and get back to you within 48 hours.